Allen, Grant. Linnet: A Romance. New York: New Amsterdam Book Company, 1900. First U.S. edition, using same plates as the U.K. edition, with a cancel title page. (Wolff 111 comments, regarding the U.K. first [Grant Richards, 1898]: "Pages browning; of a cheap grade." Since the New Amsterdam edition is printed on first-rate paper, it is reasonable to conclude that they did not import the British sheets, but used Grant Richards' plates and their own better grade of paper. Despite the U.K. printing statement on the last page of the present book, it makes more sense therefore to regard this as a new edition rather than a new issue.) Octavo, pp. [i-v] vi [1] 2-394. Original red pictorial cloth, front panel stamped in gold and black, spine panel stamped in gold. Illustrated with photogravure portrait of artist on inserted frontispiece. A fine bright copy. Uncommon. #722. $45. A fully developed Edwardian novel set mostly in the Swiss Alps region of Tyrol. Two visiting Englishmen hear a Swiss peasant girl and recognize the extraordinary quality of her voice. What follows is a competition between them and the canny Swiss innkeeper to exploit this asset, and to win her romantic favor. The background later shifts to London. The idea of tragic consequences unfolding from the discovery of musical genius in a working-class girl carries echoes, inevitably, of the spectacularly successful Trilby (1894) by Du Maurier. Seller Inventory # 722

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Bibliographic Details

Title: Linnet

Publisher: New Amsterdam Book Company, New York

Publication Date: 1900

Binding: Hardback

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

Edition: First Edition.

Store Description

When I began my bookselling business in 1996 I called it "Eldritch Books" because that adjective at least partly covered the type of material I offered (and because its similarity to my own surname seemed so -- eldritch). "Ghost stories" would be another handy, if somewhat reductive, term. Most of it is fiction from the 19th and early 20th century with a strong emphasis on the fantastic. Since the most familiar and relevant genre terms in use today -- "science fiction," "fantasy," "supernatural," "horror" -- were not so much in use when these books were first published, pegging them that way can be anachronistic. But that should give you the general idea. I don't have much in the way of American pulp (either in magazine or specialty press book form) but otherwise my interests range widely from high-brow to middle-brow to low-brow to amateur/eccentric. You're more likely to find rare and obscure works here than high spots. (Or at least they're obscure now, whatever their status was when first published.) In 2001 I went to work for L. W. Currey as cataloguer and general assistant. Since 2014 I've been back working on my own. I have exhibited at convention fairs (such as WFC and Readercon) in the past. I began collecting and studying antiquarian fantasy around 1980. Some of my essays have appeared in genre publications such as NYRSF, Wormwood and F&SF. I tend to carefully research my inventory and write extensive notes. (If another dealer wishes to make use of any of these notes, I'd appreciate the courtesy of putting such excerpts in quotes and giving proper attribution to me. That's what I do when I quote from any of my reference works.) I will be gradually listing my inventory on ABE over the coming years. I hope you find something of interest.

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Robert Eldridge, Bookseller
NY, U.S.A.

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Robert Eldridge
P. O. Box 293
Elizabethtown NY 12932
USA.
Tel: 518-873-9966.
Email: rfx51@charter.net.

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I ship only by U.S. Postal Service. All shipments are packed carefully and mailed with insurance and (for domestic shipments) tracking information. Except where specified for extra large items, rates are: Domestic (within USA) Media Mail: $5. Domestic Priority: $10. International First Class (must be under 4 lbs.): $25. International Global Priority (...

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